Man sentenced to 20 years in death of his grandfather

January 28, 2014

A man accused of killing his grandfather then deserting the man's body in a truck while stopped at a Cape Coral intersection in 2011 has been sentenced to two decades in prison for the homicide.

On Monday, Clinton Travis Drake, 21, formerly of 146 Pine Lane, Clewiston, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in the Dec. 6 death of John William Drake, 84. Circuit Judge Bruce Kyle handed down a sentence of 20 years in prison, followed by 15 years of probation, according to state officials.

"We worked closely with the victim's family on this resolution," Samantha Syoen, spokeswoman for the State Attorney's Office, said. "We hope this sentencing allows the family to move forward."

Article Photos

Clinton Travis Drake

Assistant State Attorney Hamid Hunter handled the case.

Assistant Public Defender Beatriz Taquechel represented Drake.

Taquechel did not return a call seeking comment Tuesday.

In 2011, police received a call about a man slumped over at the wheel of a Dodge pickup at Veterans Parkway and Del Prado Boulevard, South. Officers found John William Drake bludgeoned to death.

Police began searching the area. A resident reported seeing a man running through a nearby neighborhood and Clinton Drake was located and detained in the 1200 block of Southeast 26th Terrace.

He reportedly told detectives that he had killed his grandfather.

In March 2012, Drake was found incompetent to stand trial in the murder case.

The Department of Children and Families transported him to a lockdown hospital within the state, where he was to remain for treatment. The court was to check in with his doctors at a later date.

"We appreciate the hard work of the Cape Coral Police Department with us on this case," Syoen said.